Energy Corridor bridge design competition gets under way

An opportunity to shape the look of a pedestrian and bicyclist bridge that will span Interstate 10 in Houston’s [Energy Corridor District] (http://www.energycorridor.org) awaits students in a design contest hosted by the district and Jun-Hyun Kim, assistant professor of [landscape architecture] (http://laup.arch.tamu.edu) at Texas A&M.

Students, who registered for the competition early in the spring 2016 semester, have until 11:59 p.m. April 22 to submit entries.

The corridor is a suburban area approximately 17 miles west of downtown Houston that hosts many of the region’s multinational energy companies.

Contest organizers are looking for an iconic bridge design to connect a future transit center north of I-10 to an entertainment and residential hub across the interstate. Organizers also want the structure to contribute to the district’s overall branding and messaging efforts.

Among the additional criteria a contest jury, consisting of Kim and ECD officials, will consider in the design submissions:

• A clearly documented analysis and design process;
• Consistency with the district’s master plan principles;
• Effective production of place-making measures to create a gateway and landmark, and
• the entry’s effectiveness in communicating graphic concepts.

The jury will announce the three top entries in May; $500 will be awarded for the first-place entry, $200 for second place and $50 for the third place.

“The top entries will be considered in future development efforts by district officials,” said Kim.

For more information about the contest, contact Kim at jhkim@arch.tamu.edu or 979.845.2532.